Fastway ready to exploit NZ Post cuts

The vision of Fastway Couriers CEO Austin Mortimer is, "to delight our customers at the door''.

Fastway Couriers is embarking on a new strategic direction to embrace opportunities in the market resulting from the growth in online retailing, says Austin Mortimer, CEO of Fastway Couriers New Zealand.

Fastway Couriers originally began as a low-cost courier service between Napier and Hastings in 1983 and now has more than 250 courier franchisees operating out of 17 regional depots around the country. Mortimer says Fastway Couriers' 15 per cent year-on-year growth over the past five years has resulted in a range of new opportunities for courier franchisees and regional franchisees to join the business.

"Courier franchisees manage and operate a specific courier territory while regional franchisees operate the depot facilities within a specified region. We're looking for experienced business people who want to take the next step in their career with the support and back-up of a successful franchise group," he says.

Mortimer sees plenty of opportunity for Fastway Couriers to step up to Number Two in the New Zealand market within the next three years.

"For many years, couriers have provided a more convenient alternative to post for parcel shipping. With NZ Post looking to cut its mail deliveries down to three times a week, online retailers around the country are taking notice and are now reassessing whether the 'default option' of post is meeting their needs," Mortimer says. "At Fastway, our goals are to focus on organisational efficiency, customer service and the latest technology. This allows the franchise as a whole to respond to rapidly evolving customer needs."

He says the key to Fastway Couriers' on-going success is the strength of its franchise structure.

"Fastway Couriers is a network of local business people, who are each invested in working closely with their customers to build their businesses. This dedication to our customers has helped Fastway to establish an impressive list of clients," says Mortimer.

For many clients, Fastway collects goods straight from the shipping container and distributes them throughout the country.

"Often, the only experience that online shoppers have of a business is its company website and the courier delivery. This 'last mile' of delivery can be vital, so online retailers rely on the courier to act as an extension of their business. "Our couriers are the face of our business, and as business owners, they're more likely to do a better job," Mortimer says. He stresses that customer service is just one side of the equation. "Our mission to 'delight our customers at the door' requires the latest technology to help our clients and their customers stay informed, ensure efficiency and raise levels of satisfaction. "We're 100 per cent committed to providing customers and recipients with the latest tools to make receiving parcels even easier," says Mortimer.

Fastway Couriers is to celebrate its 30th anniversary, uniting representatives from its operations around the world in Napier on September 19-21.

Prospective courier franchisees and regional franchisees should contact:

Austin Mortimer,

CEO Fastway Couriers NZ

Phone: 0800 4 FASTWAY

Email: fso@fastway.co.nz

To learn more please see:

http://fastway.co.nz/franchising